My Dad - who, at 89, is still kicking, thank God - always HATED this show. But the conditions was, I got to watch it
nightly at 7:00 P.M. AFTER dinner, and AFTER I completed all of my homework. He would lie on the den floor, reading
the paper. Occasionally, he would chuckle at lines, usually those said by/referring to Fred. For instance, in "First Stop",
Fred says, "eight dollars, sixteen dollars - who CARES?" My father really roared when Ethel retorted, "Oh he IS tired!"
He also laughed at Ricky's meltdown when he saw the lumpy barbeque. Funny, how we recall such childhood things.
I mean, we're talking 50....er....a long time ago.
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Daggerboard (581)
4 years ago
That's so neat about your dad. Mine's about the same age and, yeah, sweet memories. Mine laughed out loud at the candy factory ep, but otherwise didn't watch it much.
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[email protected] (1732)
4 years ago
Actually, I stand alone. My younger brother didn't care for the show, and neither did my Mom, who felt Lucy's
voice was grating, her hair "years" out of style (a complaint she first made in the late '60's).
One of my female bosses in the 1980's found Lucy "a shrew." Other friends I knew found her "too slapstick."
I guess I have to consider it a gift to be one of the millions who "get" her. The latest would be Ellen DeGeneres,
who mentioned her in her Carol Burnett Golden Globes' speech.
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Daggerboard (581)
4 years ago
Well, they don't know what they're missing. Thankfully, besides my dad, my family has always enjoyed the show. I guess I understand what they mean by "slapstick", but it's the acting, the timing, and the writing beyond the goofiness that's so brilliant. Besides Ball, I also really enjoy Desi Arnaz and Vivian Vance. Sometimes I don't think Vance gets the credit she deserves.
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[email protected] (1732)
4 years ago
I think Vance was great, too. Even Lucille Ball admitted in the last years of her life, that she finally
recognized how great Vance was, stating Vance "never missed." Ball claimed she was so busy studying
what worked and didn't work in her own performances, that she didn't pay much attention to the rest
of the cast. She also enjoyed watching Desi.
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steven1660 (140)
4 years ago
The only person in my family who doesn't like it is my sister. My grandfather was actually watching I Love Lucy the day my mother was born. A few years ago, my great uncle who worked nights all his life and never got to watch it, borrowed my DVDs and watch the whole series and loved it. I used to watch Lucy with my grandmother all the time and it's one of the few sitcoms she actually laughed out loud at. She thought many sitcoms were too silly or stupid, but she love Lucy.
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[email protected] (1732)
4 years ago
One of the key reasons I recall being hypnotized by the series was how BEAUTIFUL Ball was. This,
combined with her childlike voice (sharp and high-pitched) made her totally unique in the pantheon
of TV stars. As Dick Van Dyke commented on the night of her death, Ball's comedic magic
was simply "a study in human behavior." This is why so many people related to Lucy Ricardo. She
openly displayed (by either facial or verbal communication) every human emotion. There are so
many examples of this, but I'll cite one classic episode: "Ethel's Birthday." Here, Lucy is blunt
("where's he been, underwater?"); thoughtful (having dinner to remind Fred, then reminding Fred
that dinner and the play is Lucy and Ricky's treat); helpful (agreeing to buy the gift); excited; (to
see Ethel's reaction to the gift); genuinely hurt (by Ethel's disdain for the gift); angry; BITCHY ("first,
I'd have to take them in six inches in the SEAT!"); furious (at seeing Ethel at the play, so much so,
that she tells a total stranger - who's holding his seat for her - to "shut up!"); childish (despite being
totally aware that she's creating the scene, she tells the man behind her to "Please sit down, and
stop making so much noise"); emotionally vulnerable (openly sniffling and then sobbing when she's
reminded how much she loves her friend.
That's a lot of human behavior in 25 minutes. Even Ralph Kramden and Archie Bunker didn't
show such range of emotion.
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Daggerboard (581)
4 years ago
Beautiful examples of Lucille Ball's skills. It's funny, when I think of Vivian Vance, this birthday episode is usually what I think of. "I was wondering what I'd wear to all those smart dinner parties I give." Makes me laugh every time.
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